Tributes paid after death of Sir Ken Dodd

A book of condolence will be opened this morning at Liverpool Town Hall for people to pay their respects to comedy genius, and Freeman of the City, Sir Ken Dodd.

The last word should go to the great man himself who said "Laughter is the greatest music in the world and audiences come to my shows to escape the cares of life".

People from across the East have been leaving their tributes to the "force of nature" that was Sir Ken Dodd.

He Wednesday Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, on Friday and an announcement was due to go out later this week about the marriage. It takes it out of you - believe me you know when you've done a show, it takes a day or two to recover.

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'We first met when I was in the Ken Dodd Christmas show in 1961 at the Manchester opera house, i've had the supreme joy and privilege of working and living with him as partner for the past 40 years.

The star had recently been released from hospital after six weeks of treatment for a chest infection. There is no one else that comes close.

"RIP Sir Ken Dodd".

Sir Ken was nearly married decades ago to Anita Boutin, but she died of a brain tumour in 1977, after spending 24 years of their lives together.

The Liverpool-born comic was set to perform one of his marathon shows at the Sheffield Lyceum but a spokesman said today: "It was with great sadness that we heard of Ken Dodd's death today".

Sir Ken was a regular fixture of the Congress Theatre Summer Season and he provided many hours of laughs even in just one of his shows - his performances were legendary it would be a short show if it was a five hour performance. Anne was in the process of cancelling all of his dates because when Ken goes on stage he's up there for about four hours. Famous for his work ethic and for gigs that lasted hours, he was touring until a year ago, when ill health forced him to pull out of a series of dates. I'm privileged to have been there for him and he for me. "I shall really miss him".

His heyday was in the 1960s - in 1965 he had a 42-week run live at the London palladium. He was also a well-known singer.